Hi everyone, just wanted to share my experience and good news with you. I got my ESA50 in December, sent it in beginning of January (special delivery). I'd asked not to be contacted by phone at any stage. Got a decision letter from DWP mid-February, saying only that I'd been placed in WRAG for 18 months and would now be in receipt of ESA (instead of IB).
Immediately wrote a polite and respectful letter back asking for ESA85a and a reconsideration. Last week got a letter from my local JobCentre+ to go for a personal adviser interview. Wrote to the lady who was to be my adviser and explained appointment was too early for me (because of meds) and wanted to also arrange support, so could the interview be postponed.
Heard nothing so went down today (I was worried my benefits might be affected), only to be told by a lovely lady on the internal phone that they've reconsidered and put me in Support Group for 18 months.
Am delighted and relieved. Thank you for the superb advice, B&W, and all I'd say to encourage others is: follow the guides to the best of your ability, submit any supporting evidence you can lay hands on, and in communication with anyone at the DWP, make them feel appreciated. They're human and mostly want to help us if at all possible. I feel very fortunate. Best of luck to anyone suffering and worried at present - get as much help as you can to represent yourself well in writing, in the first instance.
